New Power!
'I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.'
Ephesians 1v17-21 (NIV)
Another three weeks of lock down. It's a long time! The pressure is on to stay strong; Strong for the Family; Strong for the Children; Strong for our Neighbours; and Strong for Self. We've done well to get this far, but perhaps like me you are beginning to realise that self-motivation is not going to be enough. Where will we get this power from? We need something more than what we ourselves can do.
The answer is to see that God has already given us his power and strength:
'I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe.' That power is for those 'who believe', that is those who trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has already given us 'the riches of his glorious inheritance', the promise of eternal life and now we can experience his resurrection power in our lives today. So how can I experience this power for living?
First, Know God's great power over death. God's power is the power 'he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.' We have all seen great demonstrations of power, be it the forces of nature or human strength. But this is a power like no other. This is a power that defeated and destroyed the power of death. No-one and nothing has been able to break the power of death - but God did. In fact God's power is so great he seated Christ, 'far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.' Christ who died is now raised to the position of absolute power and supreme authority over all things. God's power is unrivaled and unmatched.
Second, Experience God's great power for life. The amazing truth is, God's power which is at work in us, 'is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.' You will not find or experience another power like it. It truly is 'his incomparably great power for us who believe.' The power that destroyed death and gave Christ his power is at work in us and for us. We have been given resurrection power!
How might I experience it? We must learn to die to ourselves. Just as Christ died to any self notions of power and greatness, so we too must die to any self desires of position and authority. We die to our will and seek God's way. As we do we come to see our own true weakness and in turn depend upon God's power to enable and equip us.
How do we use it? God gives his power not to lord it over others but to serve others, as Christ served us. His power is so great that even in our own weakness we will have strength to serve others.
Reflection
God's 'resurrection power' is not something we have to earn. That's depending on your own performance. God's 'power' is a gift, it is won for us through the perfect performance of Jesus Christ. We receive it by faith and experience it as we repent from self sufficiency.
Prayer
Father, open the eyes of my heart in order that I may know your incomparable great power at work in my life. Please help me to die to self and use the strength you give to serve others.
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